Student learns life lessons on Costa Rica adventure

Palmetto Bay student Austin Estape (third from right) is pictured in Costa Rica with fellow participants during a recent adventure as part of Costa Rica Outward Bound.

Catching waves on a surfboard, rafting Class IV rapids, trekking through clouded rain forests and living with indigenous families were only some of the activities that 17-year-old Palmetto Bay student Austin Estape experienced during a recent 15-day adventure across Costa Rica with Costa Rica Outward Bound.
In addition to physical challenges, Estape developed leadership skills and experienced firsthand the culture of Costa Rica. She hiked into a remote Costa Rican village to conduct home-stays with local families. Estape learned about traditional foods and how to make sugar from sugar cane and tortillas from ground corn.
“It was pretty difficult, but totally worth it,” she said. “It was challenging; I got to see Costa Rica in a lot of ways, and I had fun.”
Founded in 1997 by Dr. James Rowe, executive director, the Costa Rica Rainforest Outward Bound School combines activities including hiking, rafting, kayaking, surfing, rappelling and scuba diving with hands-on cultural experiences such as home-stays with local families and complete immersion in wilderness settings.
For more information visit online at www.costaricaoutwardbound.org.